Commissioning Electrical Systems - … · – CxA must be independent of the project design and ... • Construction observation • Testing procedures ... Compartmental Transformer

Commissioning Electrical Systems:An Expansion of LEED®

byRick Miller, PE, LEED AP

RNM Engineering, Inc.San Luis Obispo, CA

IEEE-SF-IASApril 26, 2011

Outline

• LEED commissioning. • What clients are actually requesting. • The Commissioning process. • Experience in recent projects. • The importance of commissioning.

LEED® and Commissioning

• EA Prerequisite Fundamental Commissioningof Building Energy Systems

• EA Credit 3 Enhanced Commissioning2 Points

Fundamental Commissioning

• Designate an individual as the commissioning authority (CxA)– CxA must have documented CxA experience.– CxA must be independent of the project design and

construction management.– CxA must report results, findings and

recommendations directly to the Owner.– For projects smaller than 50,000 gross square feet,

the CxA may be a qualified person on the design or construction team who has the required experience.


• The owner must prepare Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR).

• The design team must develop the Basis Of Design (BOD).

• The CxA must review these documents for clarity and completeness.

• The owner and design team must be responsible for updates to their respective documents.


• Develop and incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction documents.

• Develop and implement a commissioning plan.

• Verify the installation and performance of the systems to be commissioned.

• Complete a summary commissioning report.


• Commissioning process activities must be completed for the following energy-related systems: – HVACR – Lighting and Daylighting Controls– Domestic Hot Water Systems– Renewable Energy Systems (e.g. wind, solar)

Enhanced Commissioning

• EA Credit 3 (2 Points)• Begin the commissioning process early in

the design and execute additional activities after systems performance verification is completed.


• The commissioning authority (CxA): – Must have documented CxA experience.– Must be independent of the project design

and construction management.– Must not be an employee of the design firm,

but may be contracted through them.– Must not be an employee of, or contracted

through, a contractor or CM holding construction contracts.

– May be a qualified employee or consultant of the Owner.


• Must conduct 1 or more commissioning design reviews of the OPR, BOD, and design documents prior to the mid-CD phase and back-check the review comments in the subsequent design submission.


• Must review contractor submittals applicable to systems being commissioned for compliance with the OPR and BOD. This review must be concurrent with the review by the architect or engineer and submitted to the design team and the owner.


• Must develop a Systems Manual that gives future operating staff the information needed to understand and optimally operate the commissioned systems.


• Must verify that the requirements for training operating personnel and building occupants have been completed.


• Must be involved in reviewing the operation of the building with operations and maintenance (O&M) staff and occupants within 10 months after substantial completion. A plan for resolving outstanding commissioning related issues must be included.

Clients Request

• Basic Cx (required)– Lighting Control

• Enhanced Cx (EA Credit 3 for 2 points)– Lighting Control– Electrical equipment testing– Automatic system operation

The Process

• Design review• Product submittals • Construction observation • Testing procedures • Owner training • Final reports

Design Review

• Review OPR• Review BOD• Review Design Development Docs• Review 50 or 75% Construction Docs and

backcheck previous comments

Product Submittals

• Review product submittals – for compliance with design documents – from Cx perspective

Construction Observation

• CxA acts as another observer• Does not replace observation by designer• Does not replace AHJ

Testing Procedures

• Formalizes the usual electrical testing • Prepares written test procedures

– Step-by-Step– Action and expected response– Test everything it is supposed to do– Test it does not do what it is not supposed to do

• Based on written “Sequence Of Operation”

Owner Training

• Document that training occurred

Final Reports

• O&M manual for Owner• Final report for LEED submission

Recent Experience

• 12kv Dual Loop Distribution• Paralleling Switchgear• Load Shed Switchgear • UPS Systems• Lighting Control

Design 12KV Diagram

12KV Dual Loop Distribution



• Source cable connected to feeder switch • Cables were crossed between loops• Phase rotation of North Utility and South

Utility were different

Test 12KV Phase Rotation

Test of 12KV Switchgear

Functional Performance Test

Compartmental Transformer

Transformer Monitors

Primary Selector Switch

480V One Line Diagram

Redrawn One Line Diagram

Paralleling Switchgear

Load Shed Switchgear

Load Shed Switchgear

Cx Issue List

UPS Maintenance Bypass

Lighting Control

• Biggest issue is lack of a written sequence of operation.

• Next issue is lack of details

Lighting Control

Lighting Control

A Tale of Two Projects


• School #1 had a total of 19 warranty requests over a period of a year. These 19 requests were related to 38 issues of which eight were recurring issues.



• School #2 had 4 warranty requests related to 4 issues – none of which were repeats.



• School #2 had 4 warranty requests related to 4 issues – none of which were repeats.

• Which school used the LEED Cx process?

In Conclusion

• Commissioning is important

In Conclusion

• Commissioning is the most important

In Conclusion

• Commissioning is the most important• Saves energy• Reduces O & M costs• Enhances safety

Credits

• Enovity• Greg Cunningham• Vivek Mittal• Zinovy Gutman

The End

Documents

Commissioning Electrical Systems - … · – CxA must be independent of the project design and ... • Construction observation • Testing procedures ... Compartmental Transformer